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Monday, September 28, 2015

Pregnancy Over 40, Trying To conceive Over 40 Testosterone Needed

Many women may have a problem with an overabundance of male hormones which can lead to fertility problems.
However,
some male hormones are needed for a healthy reproductive system. This
article explains how androgens can actually aid in egg development:

Male
sex hormones, such as testosterone, have well defined roles in male
reproduction and prostate cancer. What may surprise many is that they
also play an important role in female fertility. A new study finds that
the presence and activity of male sex hormones in the ovaries helps
regulate female fertility, likely by controlling follicle growth and
development and preventing deterioration of follicles that contain
growing eggs.from: www.urmc.rochester.edu

Friday, September 25, 2015

Pregnancy Over 40, Fertility Treatments, Embryos and Miscarriage

Not
exactly the family portrait you'd have hanging on the living room wall.
Yes, these are all my children - none of whom are with us now.
They
either didn't survive in the petrie dish or I miscarried them. I found
these pictures when I was going through my file cabinet and came across
my "fertility file". Wow, what a flood of emotions came cascading down
when I found these. I also had a stack about an inch thick of old
medical bills associated with my fertility treatments - about $25,000 in
total (thankfully all paid).

All
of this just reminded me what a bad decision it was for me to go the
"high tech" route. When I see these pictures, it seems like I somehow I
assaulted mother nature. These eggs were forced to grow with
injections of fertility drugs and extracted with surgery, machinery and
needles. It almost seems like something out of an alien abduction.

In
all fairness, I know plenty of people who have pictures similar to
these and they did indeed become their beautiful children. So, it's not
mad science. It's just now that I have the benefit of hindsight, I see
how I just needed to work with mother nature, and not try to by-pass or
outsmart her.

According
to a study cited in the article below, a daily dose of sunshine can
help with sperm quality. There seems to be evidence that couples
conceive while they are on vacation...hence the term "procreation
vacation"...it's probably because they're getting more sunshine, Vitamin
D, and of course they're reducing their stress levels. Read more:

From the article:

A study found almost a third of men experiencing fertility problems have low levels of vitamin D, the 'sunshine vitamin'.

Just spending ten minutes outside in their shirt sleeves would be enough
of a boost, according to Anne Clark, the medical director of an
Australian fertility centre.

Previous studies have shown vitamin D, produced from natural light and
found in oily fish and eggs, is important for a healthy pregnancy.

'The results show lifestyle changes can be beneficial,' Dr Clark told the Fertility Society of Australia, in Brisbane.
The vitamin D deficiency could have been caused by worries about skin
cancer and by men trying to avoid too much exposure to sunshine, Dr
Clark said.
She suggested that office workers could absorb enough vitamin D by
simply having their morning tea break outside in the sunshine with their
sleeves rolled up.
Other basic lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking, losing weight,
and reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, would also help.

In her group, 105 men agreed to the changes, and to take multivitamins and antioxidants for two to three months.

Afterwards, tests revealed 'an improvement in the shape of the sperm, which can enhance conception,' said Dr Clark.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Pregnancy Over 40 With Help From The Stars

I hesitated when I thought about posting this article on my blog.

picture: galacticconnection.com

Could
something like astrology really help you get pregnant? Being the open
minded person I am, and knowing how intelligent and educated my readers
are, I thought I'd let you be the judge. It never occurred to me to use
astrology to conceive, but there may be some evidence that it helps.
Read more:

She was introduced to the idea by a
lecturer in astrology whom she met when researching a book. ‘I’m a
scientist and we’re told that we should laugh at ­astrology in our
culture,’ she says. ‘But I’ve approached this with an open mind.’

Catherine had her consultation with Nicola Smuts in August 2008, just a
month after her second ­miscarriage. Nicola pinpointed two fertile times
for the couple to try another cycle of IVF. The next was in February
2009, when sadly their frozen embryos failed to ­survive, and then again
in August 2009.

‘I knew we would be laughed at for putting credence in astrology,’ says
Catherine. ‘But I just kept telling the clinic: “It has to be then.” The
way I saw it, we were using a mix of cutting-edge ­science and a dose
of magic.’

Nicola’s predications came true, and Willow was born in May. ‘I know
many people will say we were successful because we used this new type of
IVF, but I also like to think we chose a propitious time. I would say
to any woman, try astro-fertility, because I believe it works,’ she says

Her view is shared by health ­psychologist Dr Pat Harris, who researched
the link between a woman’s fertility and horoscope for her PhD.

She says: ‘I found that women who knew their exact time of birth who
then used an astro­logical chart to p­redict their best time to conceive
could increase their chances of conception by 23 per cent.’from: dailymail.co.uk

Friday, September 18, 2015

How Yoga Positions For Fertility Can Help Couples Conceive

With more and more women delaying having children until later in life, there are a growing number of couples having difficulties conceiving. From their mid thirties onwards, women's chances of getting pregnant drop dramatically and many are turning to medical intervention to assist them in having a baby.

Trying to conceive can be a very stressful and emotional experience, particularly when it involves undergoing fertility treatment or IVF. Many doctors are now recommending women use yoga in conjunction with their medical treatment, both to assist them in de-stressing and to enhance their possibilities of becoming pregnant.
A Harvard based study found that women who were trying for a baby were three times more likely to conceive if they took fertility focussed yoga courses than those who did not. But what is it about yoga that prepares the body so well for conception and pregnancy?
As we have already mentioned, stress can be a major problems when a couple are having trouble conceiving. Stress can interfere with a woman's menstrual cycle and delay ovulation, as well as reducing sperm production in men. The emotional release of yoga can ease stress and anxiety, enhancing a couples chances of conceiving.
This is most effective if both the male and female participate, and a couple might consider partner yoga in this situation. As well as deepening and strengthening their relationship, partner yoga can teach them how to cope together with the strain of trying for a baby.
There are numerous other ways that a fertility focussed yoga course can help a woman to conceive. In yoga the body is seen as an energy system, with a number of different areas or chakras. Certain yoga positions focus on increasing the energy flow in the second chakra, known as the seat of creation, which is where the reproductive organs can be found.
There are many yoga positions that increase energy in the second chakra. Certain restorative poses are perfect to prepare the body for conception. They can help to soften the abdominal region and remove any tension from the area of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Reclining poses are used to elongate the abdominal region, allowing more blood flow to the reproductive organs.
There are also specific yoga positions that a woman can use after sex to increase her chances of conception. One of the most popular is a legs up the wall pose, known as Viprarita Kirani. This ensures that the sperm remain in the optimum position for fertilisation for as long as possible.
A final way that yoga can assist conception is by correcting irregular hormone levels that may be limiting fertility. Certain yoga positions can improve glandular function, which helps to normalize hormone levels.
Although nobody would claim that yoga alone can make you pregnant, following a course of fertility focussed yoga can significantly reduce the stress and emotion of trying to conceive. Used in conjunction with medical treatment, it can prepare your body and mind for pregnancy and greatly increase your chances of creating that longed for baby.
For more information on the best prenatal yoga exercises [http://www.yogatohealth.com/What_Prenatal_Yoga_Exercises_and_Poses_Are_The_Best.html], click here. Rebecca has an online yoga site [http://www.yogatohealth.com] suitable for beginners here.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

I've seen Dr. Robert Winston on television a number of times over the years talking about everything from fertility, to pregnancy and everything in between. He was recently on British television talking about how IVF may be a waste of time for some couples and compared it with treating a headache with brain surgery before trying to figure out the underlying cause.

from the article:

He
explained: 'A large number of people with hormonal problems are not
getting the right treatment. Hormone drugs are cheaper but many go
straight to IVF.

'One
of the most common causes of infertility is tubal damage and this can
be investigated with a telescope and then with minor surgery to release
and open tubes.

'Statistically
these treatments and hormonal drugs are more effective than IVF and
leave patients more likely to be permanently fertile afterwards.'

For
couples who have been told they have an 'unexplained fertility'
problem, Prof Winston - whose Essential Fertility Guide was published
this week - said they should push their GP for further investigations.

'Unexplained
fertility is not a diagnosis. There will only be a very small minority
who are classed as having explained infertility,' he said.

'The
problem is the advice given by GPs is not good enough, they are
stressed and have a lot of patients and often see infertility as a minor
problem, I get that feeling anyway.'

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Lay still For Conception

I recall back when I started fertility treatments, we began with inseminations.
After
the procedure, they had me sit still with my legs up in the air for 15
minutes. Apparently, according to this article, there is research to
suggest this does help success rates. I'm sure if you're trying
naturally, the same would be true. Lay still and let nature take its
course! Read more:

Women who lie still for fifteen
minutes after insemination, rather than getting up and walking around,
are more likely to get pregnant.

Women who have artificial insemination should lie back and stay still
for 15 minutes after the procedure to "significantly" increase their
chances of getting pregnant, scientists recommend today.

The Dutch researchers found that the pregnancy rate among women who did
so was 27%, compared to 18% for for those who got straight up and moved
around.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, they said clinics should offer
facilities for "immobilisation", which was easy and cost very little, to
allow women to lie still after insemination.

"Although immobilisation takes more time and occupies more space in busy
rooms, the intervention will be economic in the long run, as pregnant
patients will not return in subsequent cycles," the team, from the
Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, said.

They studied 391 couples, getting 199 of the women to stay lying down and asking 192 to move around.guardian.co.uk

Thursday, September 10, 2015

I know many women and couples rely on fertility charting to determine the best days to conceive. I tried this method for a while but I wasn't very successful with it. I found it difficult to really know if I was getting an accurate reading of my temperature...that is if I remembered to do it at the right time.

The problem with charting is that it detects a change in temperature after ovulation has occurred. Most experts agree, and most studies support that sperm need to be ready and waiting before a woman ovulates. Many couples who use the charting BBT method as a form of birth control have many unplanned pregnancies due to its unreliability.

Tuesday, September 08, 2015

Yes! Onions and Garlic have many healthy qualities especially if you are trying to get pregnant. When I was trying to conceive, I would put onions and garlic in everything I could think of. They’re great raw or cooked in most recipes. Onions and garlic are a great way to season most dishes because they have so much flavor, you can use less salt and fat. Onions and garlic are in the “allium” family. These are rich in sulfur-containing amino acids and the anti-oxidant quercetin that helps regulate estrogen.
Much has been written about the medicinal qualities of both onions and garlic and they are also phytoestrogens. There are xenoestrogens (bad) and phytoestrogens (good).

Xenoestrogen literally means “foreign estrogen”. These xenoestrogens mimic estrogen in your system contributing to estrogen dominance. Xenoestrogens are stored in the body for an extended period of time leading to a number of conditions which ultimately contribute to infertility.

Phytoestrogens, on the other hand, are plant based substances which also mimic estrogens (phytoestrogen means “plant estrogen”), however they are weaker and they differ from xenoestrogens because they are actually beneficial. Phytoestrogens bind with estrogen receptors keeping out the stronger more harmful estrogens (like xenoestrogens). Phytoestrogens are not stored in the body and are easily broken down.

So if you're looking to regulate your estrogen, throw onions and garlic in all your cooking! If you're worried about your breath, brush your teeth and tongue with baking soda afterward. Bon Apetit!

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Pregnancy Over 40, Egg Quality And Obesity

It's no secret that obesity is a risk factor for infertility.
This
article, however, explains how obesity can actually lead to
inflammatory changes which affect an egg's development. This is true
even for younger women with regular cycles. Read more:

From the article:

Obese
women trying to become pregnant experience longer times to conception,
even if they are young and have a regular menstrual cycle. This study
sought to determine if there are alterations in an egg's environment in
obese women which contribute to poorer reproductive outcomes.

"Characteristics of eggs are influenced by the environment in which they
develop within the ovary," said Dr. Rebecca Robker, PhD, of Adelaide
University in Australia and lead author of the study. "Our study found
that obese women have abnormally high levels of fats and inflammation in
the fluid surrounding their eggs which can impact an egg's
developmental potential."

According to Dr. Robker, the fats might alter the very sensitive
metabolism of the egg and such changes are known to be harmful to embryo
formation. In addition, inflammation can damage cells and when this
happens to eggs it can affect embryo survival. Dr. Robker and her
colleagues measured hormone and metabolite levels in follicular fluid
obtained from the subjects' ovaries during their egg collection
procedures. They found that obese women exhibited an altered ovarian
follicular environment, particularly increased metabolite and androgen
activity levels, which may be associated with poorer reproductive
outcomes.(www.sciencedaily.com)

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About Me

After years of infertility, and finally the birth of her daughter at the age of 44, Sandy Robertson shares information about natural ways to conceive on her website (getpregnantover40.com) and her three blogs on infertility over 40, miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage, and pregnancy/motherhood over 40.